1. January Art Exhibit Reception
When/Where: Sunday, January 8, 1-5 p.m., Montgomery Art Association Gallery, 11160 Veirs Mill Rd, Wheaton, MD 20902 (Westfield Wheaton Mall, Upper Level)
Why Go: The January exhibit at the Montgomery Art Association Gallery features Ruja Shemer as the artist of the month. Ruja Shemer paints mainly in transparent watercolor, but also uses oil and acrylic paints. Her first love is watercolor - the flow and luminous tones of the medium, the gradation of colors, and the glow of the white paper showing through the washes. Ruja has always been interested in the creative arts, including knitting, sewing, painting and gardening.
Cost: Free
When/Where: Sunday, January 8, 5:30-10 p.m. at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Silver Spring, MD
Why Go: Sunday is the last day to walk through this holiday lights display at Brookside Gardens. Inside the conservatory, whimsical trains choo-choo their way around a scaled-down landscape featuring Wheaton and Kensington landmarks.
Cost: $25/car
3. Live Music: Night and Day Jazz
When/Where: Friday, Jan. 6, from 7-10 p.m. at Hollywood East, in the Wheaton Mall, 11160 Veirs Mill Rd, Wheaton, MD
Why Go: The Night & Day Jazz Combo will perform at Hollywood East Cafe on the first Friday of every month. Renee Tannenbaum on vocals, Mike Suser on piano and vocals, Dennis Johnson on saxophone and Steve Scott on bass.
Cost: Free
4. Learn to Speedskate with the Potomac Speedskating Club
When/Where: Sunday, Jan. 8, from 7-9 a.m. at the Wheaton Ice Arena (11717 Orebaugh Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902)
Why Go: The Potomac Speedskating Club is the #2 ranked short-track speedskating club in the U.S. Coached by US Speedskating Level 3 Coach Hyun Jung Lee and USS Level 1 Coach Camila Silva. For boys and girls ages 5 through adult, no experience necessary but some prior skating experience is recommended. Sessions weekly at the Wheaton Ice Arena on Sunday mornings and Monday and Thursday nights. For more information, visit www.potomacspeedskating.org and complete our inquiry form, or email info@potomacspeedskating.org
Cost: First three sessions are free, then $250 for 10 Learn to Speedskate sessions.
Where/When: Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Saturday, Jan. 7, at 1 p.m.
Why Go: See a special screening of the 2007 film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," the memoir of the French editor of Elle magazine, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except for his left eye. Bauby used his good eye to blink out his memoir, which covers the psychological torment of being trapped inside his body, as well as imagined stories from lands he'd only visited in his mind.
Pricing: Free